Witches Work Under The Stars - Chapter 2 - Anathema x Reader
Ship: Anathema Device x Reader’
Characters: Anathema Device, Adam Young, Brian, Pepper, Wensleydale, Crowley, Aziraphale
Plot: Upon crashing your bike in the middle of the woods, a group of kids guide you to a cottage that smells of lavender and sage.
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Chapter Two: Warm Tea, Fresh Cookies, and Exasperated Chats of the Dreaded Patriarchy
After a short while longer you found yourselves at the edge of a village. A wave of relief washed over you as the kids lead you to a small cottage. Outside a young woman sat under an umbrella, her focus trained on a heavy book in front of her. She didn’t look up until Adam called out to her, waving wildly to catch her attention.
“Oh, kids! You can’t be outside in the rain. It will do numbers to you.” She hurried down to open the gate, worry evident in her voice.
“You’re outside in the rain.” Adam pointed out, causing the woman to sigh as she ushered him up the path. The rest of The Them followed, and you lingered slightly behind.
“That’s different.” She scolded, before turning to you. “Hello, I’m Anathema. I don’t believe we’ve met.” She gave you a bright smile, the type that was far too brilliant to not demand one in return.
“No, I don’t believe we have either. I’m (Y/N). I got rather lost and I’m afraid my bike broke. The kids found me and said I might be able to stay here to wait out the rain. I do hope I’m not intruding, I can easily turn back around if that’s the case. I wouldn’t want to be a bother.”
“Nonsense, you’re perfectly welcome.” She motioned for you to lay your bike in her yard before guiding you to the front door. You thanked her sincerely as you shrugged off your coat and carefully removed your shoes, setting them both down gently in the corner. She placed a kettle on the stove as you grabbed a seat at the table, The Them already waiting.
“Do you have sweets for us this time, Aunt Anathema?” Brian asked, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
“Perhaps, if you behave.” The kids cheered and you suppressed a shiver.
“Aunt Anathema? You’re related?” You asked, to which all of them protested.
“No, you see, it’s like this.” Adam said. “When the world was supposed to end but didn’t, Aunt Anathema was one of the people there to stop it. She’s sort of like...a godmother. Or an honorary aunt. The same way with our Uncle Aziraphale and our Uncle Crowley. They also helped save the world.”
“A man named Newton also helped. But he and Aunt Anathema broke up, so we don’t see him anymore.” Wensleydale added. Pepper scoffed.
“Thank God for that. She’s much better off without him. If you ask me she was simply another victim to the ruthless patriarchy. Her dumping his ass was a step in the right direction for her independence as a woman.” Anathema paused for a moment, scolding her for her language.
“Enough about him. Tea is almost ready. Do you take sugar in yours?” She asked you, pulling out a box of sugar cubes from the cabinet. You gave her a short reply before offering to help, but she waved it off. “Don’t worry about it, you’re my guest after all.”
Yes, an unexpected and probably unwanted guest. You thought to yourself, but didn’t press further. A moment later Anathema brought you each a mug and a freshly baked cookie alongside it. The children cheered as they dug in, playing with their food and chatting amongst themselves. Anathema turned to you, and the two of you made polite conversation about the events that led to your discovery in the woods.
“You live in central London? How did you manage to get this lost? You’re all the way in Tadfield.” Anathema gawked. You laughed quietly, taking a sip of your drink.
“I have a striking suspicion that the old couple I asked for directions led me in the wrong way.” You muttered. “The redhead kept smiling at me as if he knew I’d get lost, and seemed to enjoy the idea of it. His partner was rather flustered, I assume he wasn’t in on it.”
Anathema shook her head slightly. “Well, I’m sorry for all of the trouble.” She turned to peer outside the window, cursing as she realized how late it had gotten. “I’m sure their parents are worried sick. If you’ll excuse me.” You nodded as she moved to another room, making several phone calls. While you waited you collected the empty mugs around the table, washing them quietly. The kids chattered back and forth, asking you the occasional question as you tidied the rest of their mess. You answered to the best of your ability, trying to dodge the more awkward or personal ones without seeming rude.
As you finished up Anathema returned, clasping her hands together. “Kids, since it’s so late you’ll be sleeping here tonight.” They cheered, jumping out of their seats and rushing out of the kitchen. “Change into your pajamas!”
She turned to face you, nodding towards the window. “It doesn’t look like that will be clearing up anytime soon. You can stay here tonight as well. I have some spare pajamas that should fit you.” You sent her a warm smile, thanking her. She waved it off once more, excusing herself to retrieve your change of clothes. You moved into the living room, a tiny space consisting of only a small couch and several bookshelves. You found yourself inspecting the titles resting on the shelves, surprised to find several relating to witchcraft. For a moment you began to question if Brian was being serious earlier, but quickly brushed off the thought. Witches didn’t exist.
Anathema cleared her throat behind you, and you spun to face her. She was clad in a silk nightgown, her hair braided and her glasses removed. She held out a bundle of fabric, and you took it with a small smirk.
“I was half expecting to find The Prisoner of Azkaban tucked away with all of those witchcraft books you have.” Anathema rolled her eyes playfully.
“Don’t be insulting.” She ordered, but her tone was light. Before you could reply The Them bounced around the corner, clad in their pajamas.
“I suppose they have sleepovers here often?” You ask, Adam nodding in response.
“We stay here lots. But we also stay at Uncle Crowley and Uncle Aziraphale’s lots too. And sometimes we have to stay at our own boring homes.” Brian turned to Anathema with the same sparkle in his eyes from before.
“May we build our fort now? We promise to clean it up first thing in the morning.” The others chimed in, making the promise they knew they wouldn’t keep. And though Anathema knew it too, she agreed.
“Fine, but I expect it to be spotless in here at the first beam of light.” The kids snickered, scrambling off to get their supplies. “(Y/N), you can sleep in here for the night.” She led you to the spare bedroom, just down the hall. You thanked her and wished her goodnight, calling the same out to the kids as they ran by with armfuls of blankets.
You shut the door behind you before changing, taking in the cozy room before you. It was small, holding not much more than a quilted bed and a writing desk perched under a window. The plush carpet felt impossibly soft beneath your aching feet. You hadn’t realized how exhausted you were until now, and it was only a matter of a few sheep leaping around in your mind before you drifted off to sleep.
